Consumer Electronics, Gadgets & Accessories

Bluetooth speaker Teufel Rockster Cross in test

Bluetooth speakers have become an absolute trend in recent years. While at the beginning mostly German-prollige Hip Hop Geröchel bothered other people, today such speakers can be found in all possible areas and age groups.

Whether replacement for the car radio, for the beach, work or the small garden sit-in – the application possibilities are multiple and the variants of these speakers numerous. A great many manufacturers, whether premium, mid-range or cheap, each has one or more Bluetooth boxes in their portfolio. Teufel is no exception and has been offering the Rockster and Bamster series for quite some time and is constantly expanding the series with additional models. The most recently released models are Rockster Cross and Go, whereby we took a close look at the Cross in this test and put it through its paces.

For all the impatient among you, the Teufel Rockster Cross is a “good one” among the speakers and for some certainly even the best choice. However, the market is highly competitive and JBL with the Extreme 1 and 2 or Harman Kardon (to which JBL belongs) with the Go Play offer solid alternatives. All-round and sound-wise, the Rockster Cross offers the best package and currently costs just under 300 Euros. Why the Rockster Cross is all-round technical “top” and in which areas others are possibly the same, better or different, you will learn as always from the following lines.

Technical data

Maximum sound pressure 98 dB/1m
Frequency range from/to 50 – 20,000 Hz
Loudspeaker 2 tweeters, 1 woofer
Principle 2 ways
Bluetooth Yes with aptX
Battery Lithium ion
Duration of use Up to 16h (homepage), at least 10h in test mode
Charging time good 3 hours
Features Carrying strap, splash proof, powerbank mode

Design and Material

Teufel focuses on an independent and unconventional design. It reminds a bit of a too-big satellite phone from the 80s. However, if we look at the holders for the carrying straps, the sense of the slightly curved design is immediately apparent. The thing can be carried and the small curve of the back fits the body perfectly.

The design is independent and unique. The shape also ensures that an upright mode is not possible. In terms of color, the devil is kept in plain black, with a red contrast stripe around the front grille. Mainly, the Cross is made of high-quality plastic with a non-slip, haptically pleasant rubber coating. The rear grille is also made of plastic, the front one of metal. Four small feet provide a secure stand at the bottom, and the two holders for the carrying strap can be seen at the top. Three logos can be seen, the “Teufel-T” in front with discreetly darker black, in the back as a plastic logo and on top as lettering.

Not immediately visible are the two recessed grips on the left and right, which allow safe, even one-handed, carrying.

At the top in the rear are pleasantly large buttons for playback and volume control. At the back, there are on/off switches at the top, the buttons for outdoor mode, BT search and Connect. The ports are hidden behind covers at the bottom.

The build quality is on a high level. Nothing looks cheap, cracks or creaks and the gaps are sufficiently small. Unfortunately, the device does not look really sexy in my opinion. The shape is too asymmetrical, the rubber coating too pragmatic and a few inconsistencies have crept in. For example, the grille is made of metal at the front and plastic at the back, and the upper buttons are completely different from the ones at the back. A Harman Kardon Go Play looks more elegant and a JBL Extreme more rounded.

Nevertheless, you don’t have to hide with the Teufel Rockster Cross, because first of all it is an independent design and at the latest with the Teufel logos it is clear to everyone who understands a bit about speakers that there is quality in here.

In one sentence: not super sexy, but well thought out, practical and individual.

Features

The features are Teufel-typically good to very good, but also reveal a few minor flaws.

First of all, there is the powerbank functionality. How do I put it nicely, 0.5 A charging current is outmoded in this day and age. Every USB port delivers that and unfortunately leads to charging times beyond good and evil. Even small powerbanks for 7 euros deliver partly already 2A current. OK for emergencies, but more would have been possible.

The scope of delivery is also modest. The case is nicely rubberized and therefore quite robust and resistant. Nevertheless, especially with this unconventional design language, a small (carrying) bag would have been useful. Thus, the good Teufel Rockster Cross could have traveled perfectly protected from dirt and scratches.

What the little one – with the great sound – does offer, however, is protection against moisture and splash protection according to IPX5. Nevertheless, it should not take a bath.

The last thing to mention is the carrying strap, with which you can carry the part around. Made of fabric and well-made, it is sturdy and a useful addition.

What I really miss is the software side and that costs the Devil some points. No app for control, no WLAN integration, no adjustment of sound parameters to individual tastes.

Sound, dynamics and volume

It is easy to write at the sound super and good and fat bass and dynamics. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy with the sound.

For those who are not so concerned with it, a little crash course. In interiors, ultimately every piece of furniture, carpet or laminate or the size of the room is decisive for how it sounds. Then there are different styles of music with long bass like hip hop or more dry, short bass often found in electronic music. Next, it’s about balance in the highs, mids, lows, and vocal reproduction. So it depends on what the room is like and what you are listening to. Also to consider is where in the room you place it. In the middle of the room it can sound completely different than in a corner. But then you also have to see how the speaker sounds at different volumes. In summary – there are quite a few factors and their interaction decides to a large extent on the sound. Fortunately, Teufel has found some good compromises here. We divide the sound by application scenario for a better overview.

Inside

When I freed the Rockster Cross from its packaging and paired it directly with my smartphone, I was a bit disappointed with the sound. I had skimmed tests in advance and read about the good bass foundation and in my 35 square meter room it sounded so not at all like it. It was overall good, loud and balanced. Fat bass, however, I had understood differently. I tested each ,,Animals” by Martin Garrix, ,,Bubble Butt” by Major Lazer, some pop music and to assess the voice reproduction the reggae cover of Adele’s ,,Hello” sung by Rosie Delmah.

Exterior

As is the case with most outdoor speakers, performance quickly degrades in open spaces. Treble in particular fades very quickly, so it’s very commendable that the Cross offers a function to boost those very same, quickly disappearing treble. In addition, there is the already above mentioned effect that bass and sound volume increase near walls. The Teufel performed very well at the small party evening and also at the kids’ basketball game. As is so often the case these days, you would expect such sound and bass from much larger speakers.

Battery and charging

Teufel promises an excellent battery with an endurance of up to 16 hours. I didn’t bother to measure the runtime in detail, but it was fantastic. Never did I get the impression that it ran out quickly. I got by hour after hour and day after day with the battery. Perfect for festivals. In addition, it also offers a powerbank function.

The only thing I dislike is that a proprietary charging port is used. That is quite common for devices with such potent batteries and I do not like to deduct anything in the rating for that. The charging time is fully within reason at three hours. Good job, devil!

Conclusion

It is quite amazing how you can recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the manufacturer Teufel with the Teufel Rockster Cross. I have always liked Teufel, read quite a few reviews, listened to small and large systems and even installed a good home theater set for my parents, with which they are very satisfied to this day. What always distinguished Teufel was the excellent sound, reliable technology and very good amplifier performance and level stability. Good value for money was also always something that Teufel could chalk up on the have side. Features and the design were almost always good. Other manufacturers can be prettier but Teufel was also a little sexy. Something like a VW Corrado in the 90s. What Teufel never did so well was software. An app to control and adjust sound preferences I consider quite useful. A charging current of 0.5A is also not the hammer. But when the thing gets going, you can feel the bass properly set up and the thing plays for over ten hours without grumbling and growling and very loud and dynamic, that compensates for almost everything. I have already mentioned alternatives in the test. The Rockster Cross hereby gets my recommendation without reservation.

Teufel Rockster Cross

Workmanship
Battery
Sound quality
Features
Value for money

Really a nice piece of technology with excellent sound, level and battery. Slight deductions in the B grade due to small gaps in the software features and the powerbank mode. Overall, however, one of the best packages on the market.

Simon Lüthje

I am co-founder of this blog and am very interested in everything that has to do with technology, but I also like to play games. I was born in Hamburg, but now I live in Bad Segeberg.

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Bluetooth speakers have become an absolute trend in recent years. While at the beginning mostly German-prollige Hip Hop Geröchel bothered other people, today such speakers can be found in all possible areas and age groups. Whether replacement for the car radio, for the beach, work or the small garden sit-in – the application possibilities are … (Weiterlesen...)

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